Topical insulin appears to be a highly effective and safe option for promoting corneal wound healing in persistent epithelial defects, with high rates of complete healing and low failure rates, according to a study.
Researchers analyzed 13 studies, including 390 eyes, to assess healing outcomes with topical insulin therapy. On average, epithelial healing occurred within 21 days. The pooled complete wound healing rate was high at 94%, while the rate of epithelization failure remained low at 5%. Patients treated with topical insulin were more than 5 times as likely to achieve complete healing compared with controls.
The findings support the potential of topical insulin as a therapeutic option for challenging corneal conditions linked to dry eye disease and neurotrophic keratopathy. However, the authors noted substantial variability across studies and emphasized the need for larger, well-controlled trials to confirm long-term safety and effectiveness.
Reference
Amaral DC, Carvalho Soares Valentim C, et al. Impact of topical insulin as a therapeutic intervention for corneal wounds: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2025;11206721251361649. doi: 10.1177/11206721251361649. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40696883.
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